PROMOTION
SUNEKOS® PERFORMA
THE ENHANCED FORMULA FOR SKIN RENOVATION
Dr Rita Nandi discusses the evidence and her experience of wrinkle reduction and skin texture improvement using Sunekos® Performa
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RITA NANDI, MBCHB, BSC (HONS), MRCGP (2015), Cosmetic Doctor, NHS GP
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UNEKOS® PERFORMA IS an injectable treatment which gives rise to a renewal of the dermal tissue through regeneration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) using a unique patented combination of hyaluronic acid and specific amino acids which lead to new collagen and elastin production. Collagen and elastin form a large bulk of the ECM. The homeostasis of the ECM is crucial for the optimal functioning of cells and organs and leads to ageing when it is lost in the skin. Skin ageing occurs as a result of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, which not only reduce the amount of collagen available within the dermis but the composition too. For example, type III collagen forms 50% of the collagen in neonatal skin but only 5% of the collagen in ageing adult skin. Also, type IV collagen, which forms anchor plaques between structural collagen types in
March/April 2023 | prime-journal.com
the dermis, decreases with age after 35 years and the epithelial basement membrane thickness increases with age, suggesting a reduction in cell turnover. Along with this, we have a reduction in the number of fibroblasts leading to a decreased amount of collagen and elastin production along with an increase in collagen and elastin degradation through the action of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP). There is a loss of hydration due to a reduction in hyaluronic acid, which occurs as a result of a reduced number of fibroblasts, increased hyaluronidase activity and down-regulation of CD44 and RHAMM membrane receptors, leading to a reduction in gene transcription for hyaluronic acid1.
Sunekos® Performa Sunekos® Performa is a new injectable by Professional Dietetics that can be used to improve the appearance of the skin of the face, neck, décolletage and hands, so it is a very versatile product. It results in skin that looks plumper, tighter, brighter and more hydrated, with a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and an improvement in the appearance of dark circles and eye bags. It has replaced Sunekos® 200 in the injection protocols, which have been updated recently to reflect the new patented formula within Sunekos® Performa. The updated formula consists of the same six specific amino acids and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HY6AA+ Formula) but in a different ratio of HA vs AA. The new formula has been clinically shown to cause a 40%
reduction in the degradation of hyaluronic acid by hyaluronidase through the hydrophobic action of the specific amino acid formula. It has been clinically shown to prolong the beneficial action of hyaluronic acid at the injection site to stimulate receptors on the fibroblasts for longer and produce more collagen IV, elastin and fibronectin, producing more constituents of the ECM, resulting in improved skin elasticity and firmness, further hydration and producing an increased antioxidant action2-4. Sunekos® Performa consists of a 3.5ml premixed vial composed of 35 mg of non-crosslinked LMWHA ranging between 50–250kDa and 128 mg of the six specific amino acids. The mixture has been shown to help rebuild the ECM effectively by stimulating the production of elastin, all the main types of reticular collagen fibres of the dermis and Type IV and Type VII collagen. The expression of fibronectin mRNA levels was also found to be increased after 72 hours of treatment compared to untreated cells. The combination of higher amounts of collagen type IV and VII along with fibronectin (the latter plays an important role in cell adhesion and anchoring reticular collagen fibres and cells) leads to an improvement in skin firmness1,3,4.
Study method A pilot study which looked at the effect of Sunekos® Performa on facial skin ageing showed that in 10 female patients aged between 40–67 years old recruited to the study, there was an improvement in skin texture, dyschromia, skin elasticity and